today, the bill would allow states to set their own laws, and the feds would be thrown out of the marijuana enforcement game. representative barbara lee of oakland co-signed the bill because she says, quote, i believe it is time to turn the page from this failed drug war. i think that s the wrong way to go about it. reporter: but ron from the peace officers research association of california out of sacramento argues legalizing pot won t help the war on drugs. i don t feel it helps the war on drugs. marijuana is a component of the war on drugs. you have opiate and heroin, you have methamphetamine, you have all these other drugs that are out there. the bay area voted overwhelmingly for prop 19 for legalization, yes. reporter: but still that attempt to legalize marijuana failed last year, and if the federal bill passes, who knows if californians would change their minds. no, because children will be exposed and i wouldn t want my child exposed to anything like that.